The Nurburgring: Separating fact from fiction

American racer and Ring pro Robb Holland drops some knowledge.

Style SheetBefore the marketers took over, the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife was the arbiter of performance bona fides for the world's best sports cars. Now, even the Prius has an official lap time, and 'Ring misinformation abounds. Our man in Nürburg, American pro racer Robb Holland, is here to set you straight on the track you think you know.

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CLAIM: The Nürburgring went bankrupt

True!

On July 18, 2012, the Ring's owner filed for bankruptcy. The track was long subsidized by the German government and used as a tourist attraction for the Eifel region. This worked well until a couple of businessmen (we use the term loosely) leased the Ring with the idea of turning it into a Euro Disney for petrolheads. The masses failed to show, things fell apart, and engineering firm the Capricorn Group swooped in. And then, they too failed to find the cash to make it work, and now it appears that a Russian billionaire is the track's new savior.

CLAIM: The Nürburgring is in Nuremberg

False!

If that were true, it would be called the Nurembergring. The track is in Nürburg, about 3.5 hours at autobahn speed from Nuremberg, site of the famous Nazi trials.

CLAIM: I can drive it in Gran Turismo 5 or Forza, so I can drive it in real life

You actually think this?

As good as modern driving sims are, nothing can prepare you for this track. It's narrower and faster than you'd think, and the elevation changes are insane. Consider as well that the weather can change from sunny to rainy a few times per lap.

The guys at RSRNurburg, a local training and Ring-rental-car business, ask participants to raise their hands in driver meetings if they've driven the course in a video game. Anyone who responds in the affirmative is pulled aside for an "additional briefing," because people who think they know the track are usually the first to get in trouble.

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CLAIM: I can drive the track at any time

Come on, now!

As a general rule, manufacturers have exclusive, daily use of the track from 8:00 AM. to 5:00 PM. The tourist (public) sessions typically run weekdays during summer from 5:30 to 7:30 PM., plus some Saturday afternoons and evenings, and all day Sunday. But times vary. Check the website for availability.

CLAIM: I can take a rental car to the ring

Sure! (But don't.)

In the age of GPS, there's no such thing as going unnoticed. Every major rental-car company has clauses prohibiting Nürburgring use, so grabbing a BMW from the airport and blasting through a couple laps will result in a lifetime ban from the rental agency.

CLAIM: I shouldn't take a rental car to the ring

You can, and should...

...but it has to be the right type. Try RSR Nurburg, Rent4Ring, or RaceRentCar. All are based near the track's tourist entrance and offer a variety of correctly prepped and insured cars.

CLAIM: I'm liable to the track if I crash

Duh.

Adding Armco barriers both improved driver safety and bolstered the track's bottom line. Anyone who causes an accident is responsible for damages plus the cost of the circuit's closure. A recent crash reportedly ran up $19,000 in Armco repairs.

CLAIM: If I wreck, my insurance will cover it

Nope!

The Nürburgring is a public road, but after years of expensive claims from the same region (accidents happen all the time), German companies caught on. Now, pretty much every non-German insurance provider also specifically excludes the Nürburgring from its policies. That includes third-party damages and health insurance.

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